Nail-forming machine



Jan 23, 1923. M42989.

T. J. ALEXANDER. NAIL FORMING MACHINE. FILED JAN. 20, 1921.

3 SHEET'S-SHEEI 1..

Elma/Mm 7,, ljAleXa n /eY.

Jan; 23, 1923.

- T. J. ALEXANDER.

NAIL FORMING MACHINE.

3 SHhEISSHEE] 2.

FILED JAN-20,1921- v 31mm 7;?77477 IA/exahdcf.

Jan. 23,1923.

. T. J. ALEXANDER.

NAIL FORMING MACHINE.

FILED JAN. 20, 1921. 3 SHEETSSHEE1 3.

ll atented den. 23, ldfi NAIL-FOR1VING MACHINE.

Application filed January 20, 1921. Serial No. 438,543.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that TRUMAN J. ALEXANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at rishland, in the county of Boyd and State of Kei'itucky, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nail-Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nail making ma chines, and has for its object to provide a machine whereby nails may be automatically and expeditiously manufactured inlarge quantities and in an accurate well formed manner.

The present invention consists essentially in improving the machine invented jointly by G. Giesler and T. J. Alexander, the latter being the present applicant, said machine forming the subject matterof United States Letters Patent No. 88 L577, and dated April it, 1908, the improvement over said machine residing essentially in providing novel and il'nproved means for effecting the slidable operation of the movable shearin or cutting members, whereby such menibers will be positively operated. by means of link connections, whose movement is operated from and timed by a main operating shaft, the link connection being of such nature as to permit of rapid. and positive operation of the machine, to increase the output thereof, and to enable the same to be operated at rela tively high speeds without breaking or interfering with the timed operation thereof. A further object of the invention resides in forming the machine comprising the present invention to include a. common operating shaft which. is formed to provide means whereby power rious moving elements of the machine and in such i'i'ia-nner that the movements of said elements will take place at proper intervals in order to effect the several operations of the machine, in the provision of means for automatically advancing the wire stock through the machine; in controlling the size of the head formed by the machine and in rendering the various elements adjustable and replaceable so as to compensate for theeffects of wear and to. maintain proper operative relationship between the various parts.

l l ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in \the' novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of. parts, hereinafter to be will be imparted to the va more particularly described and to have the scope thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the nail forming machine comprising the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane disclosed by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4--4i of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed. sectional View disclosing the advance of the head forming plunger toward the end of the stock gripped between the dies.

Figure 6 is a detail view disclosing the extreme advanced position of the plunger into head forming engagement with the stock,

Figure 7 is a detail view disclosing the plunger retracted to allow the shearing operation, and i lfiigure 8 is a detail view showing a modified form of structure for forceably breaking a formed nail from the original stock.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main frame of the machine, which is supported from suitable legs 2, and is provided, contiguous to its rear end, with vertically upstanding bearing members 3, which are transversely spaced to provide for the rotatable support of a main transversely extending crank shaft 4. One end of said shaft being provided with a fixed balance wheel 5 and with fast and loose pulleys 6, by means of which power may be suitably imparted to effect the rotation of the shaft and the consequent operation of the machine.

Fixed. upon the end of the sh l one e to the pulley (l is a disk 7, which has its face provided with a radially extendiiw; slot 9,, in which i adjustably mounted a k pin 9, the la 1 bei movable within the slot 8 in order that the throw of link l0 con nected therewith may be adjusted. The 10 extends :torwardly substanti lv .hc length of the machine and p an iii-turned portion 11, which as at 12 to a sliding feedblock 1. block is movablv positioned upon spaced longitudinally e: e ling a pair o. rods 1%. which pro ect from the frame 1, aiuil the construction is such that upon the rotation. of the shaft 4-, horizontal reciprocating more ping the wire. However, the inipa movable die 29 111 a manner to be herein.

ment will be imparted to the gt'eei'l block. the extent of movement of said block being in turn, regulated by adjusting the positions of the pin 9 with respect to the axis ot the disk 7.

The upper surface of the block 13 is provided with upstanding pins 15 located in staggered relationship, the said pins being equipped in this instance with uide rollers: 16, between which the wire stock 1.7, usually wound about a rotatably supported reel. is passed. Alscn the feed block 13 is provided with a stationary jaw 1.8 and a movable spring pressed jaw 19. The free end of the stock 17, after being trained around and. through the roller 16, is directed between the jaws l8 and l"), and is adapted to be frictionally engagedthereby, so that" when said block is slidably advanced. the stock will be moved in unison therewith and pro jeeted into a. guide opening provided in an anvil head 21, the latter in this instance being formed with the upper surface oi the frame 1, and the opening 20 is so disposed as to extend longitudinally therethrough. Thus, by the instrumentality of the block '13, the wire stock will be advanced, in a timed manner, through the opening 2t. that the stock may be subject to the subsequent operations o1 heading plunger 22 and to transverse cutters s3. After the stock has been advanced to its. fullest extent through the openirigQO, the same is gripped in conjunction with the head 21 and, is retained stationarily within said opening during the retraction .of the feed block 13, the movable jaw 19 o f the latter serving to permit the block 13 to move outwardly without gripsufiicient pressure to the wire, when the block 13 is moving outwardly, to stretch or straighten such portions oi the stock as are confined betweenthe aws l8 and 1.9 and the anvil head 21.

The head 21 is provided with a vertically extending inner race 24-. which lies adjacent to a discharge opening 25 provided in the frame 1. The face 24 is formed with a vertically extending groove in which is fitted a gib 26. the latter being provided, inturn, with a dove-tailed groove 2?" in which are posi tioned in the upper and lower portions respect-ively thereof a stationary die 28 and a movable die 29. the said dies being 1naintained in sliding separate relationship in order that the stop from the opening 520 m2: pass therebetween.- The stationary die s preferably maintained. in position by means: of a longitudinal screw 30, which passes through the head 21, through an opening in the gib 26 and is threaded into the die 28 proper so as to maintain the latter against movement within the groove 2-2". Upward pressure is imparted to the die 28 by the t-er more "fully described. and the cll ecls oi" thisv upward pressure may be laivcn carc oi by providing the removable cap ill of the head with a vertically extendingset screw :32, ihc lower end of which engages the upper end of the die 28 so as to prevent movement on the part 01 the latter and to relieve the screw 30 of undue pressure. 'llhe movable die is freely supported for vertical reciprocation within the groove 22' and the lower end of tile movable die engages at all times will a transversely exteni'ling bar l l. which is pivoted at ill to the under portion o-IF the frame 1 and extends in such manner so lhai the lower end of the movable die will engage with the inermediate portion thcreol'. liflanifestly. by operating the bar ii). the said movable die may be raised or lowered into orout oi. clamping relal ion hip with rcspect to the die 28.

Therefore. in order to o i eraie the bar $13.. the free end thereof is preferably extended through a slot provided in the side oi the frame 1, and to this free end there is connected a coiled spring 35. which has its opposite end connected as at 36 to the ironic l. the normal tendency ol the spring;' being to retain the bar in its lowered position. However, this influence of the spring is gov erned by providing the tree end of the bar with an adjust-able vertically extending screw 37, which has its upper end cozmected with a lever 38. pivoted as at Ill) upon lbc side of the frame 1. The rear cud oi the lever 38 is equipped with an auii- 'ricfiiou roller 40, which norn'ially cn migcs bv the action of the spring 35, with the periphci'al surface of a can. ell, fixed {or rotation upon one eno ot the shaft 4:. and immediately adjacent to the dish 7. lly this (OEIS'i'YHiilOIl it will be nmni'lest that the can: ll may be so formed and timed for operation that when the feed block i3 is advancinginwardly. with the wire stock gripped thereby. lllc. said dies will be se arated :so as not to irterfere with the movement oi the Stock as controlled by the .i'ec-rl block. llowcvcr. when the feed block is retriu-tod. or in other words moves outwardly. the coin it will betimed and posi'th'uicd so as to raise the bar 33 and consequently ti in rablc dic fill and to thus grip the wire HlUt'lK between said ics. so that the outward movement of thc iced bloch wi l not withdraw the stock from its aijl'anced position within the unicbiuc. ih re on [or which wi l hereinafter appear.

the essential step in. the pim'ess: oi" completing a nail by use of the present nun chine is to j roduce 1 head tbcrcou. This is eileclvelv accmnplished by providing the upper surface oi the frame 1. centrally and longitiullinilly, and immediately to the rear of the discharge opening 25 with a pair 0% fixed guides capable oi shaped gib ell which may be retained in poreceiving a U sition by set screws i i. Slidably mounted within the gib 43 and arranged to move longitudinally of the machine toward and away from the end of the guide opening 20, is a movable block 45, in the forward end of which is provided an adjustable heading plunger i6. This plunger may be adjusted longitudinally by threading a portion of the length of the same to receive a nut 47, which engages with the forward face of the block 45 and limits the inward movement of the plunger within a bore 18 formed in said block. A vertical set screw 49 passes through the block 45 and engages with the F end of the plunger t6 situated within the bore 48 and thus effectively retains the plunger against longitudinal displacement, the

pressure exercised by the plunger in heading a nail being taken care of by the nut d7. As shown'in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the plunger lfimoves longitudinally of the frame toward and away from the opening 25, or the line of juncture between the dies 28 and 29. By means of cutters, to be hereinafter described, the wire stock is severed so as to leave a portion thereof projecting beyond the outer faces of the dies 28 and 29 so that when the plunger is advanced forwardly of the machine, the outer end thereof will be brought into engagement with the protruding end of the stock, gripped between the dies to produce a head thereon of any desired forma tion. It will be understood that the amount of material which projects beyond the dies will control the final size of the head pro duced. a

To Operate the plunger, the block 45 has its rear end bifurcated as at 50, to pivotally receive the forward end of a pair of toggle links 51, the other of said links having its rear end pivoted as at 52 within the frame 1.,

and the intermediate or adjoining ends of said links are pivotally connected as at 53 to j a strap 54, which in turn isconnected with a crank 55 provided upon the shaft 4. By this construction, the rotation of the shafts will result in raising or lowering the links 51 and in the consequent progressing or retraction of the plunger 46. It will be un derstood, however, that the plunger is adapt ed to be moved forwardly and into head forming relationship with the end of the stock when the latter is gripped between the dies 28 and 29 and while the feed block is advancing outwardly.

After the head has been produced, the plunger is retracted, and the feed block 13 is timed to move inwardly in unison with the retracting movement of the plunger. This results in advancing the headed stock immediately after the plunger, it being understood that when the plunger is retracted andthe feeding head is moving inwardly, the dies 28 and 29 are relatively separated "to permit of the feeding actionof the block 13. W hen the block 13 reaches substantially its fullest extent of inward movement, the stock is severed by means of the cutters 23, which cut the stock into nails of desired length and simultaneously provide the same with their pointed ends. These cutters are preferably mounted for sliding movement transversely of the frame 1 in bearing blocks 56, which are mounted upon the upper surface of the frame 1 contiguous to the head 21. These blocks have their inner faces provided with grooves in which are mounted gibs for the slidable reception of the cutters 23.

To effect the reciprocation of the cutters at proper intervals, the present invention con'iprises an actuating mechanism therefor which consists of a plurality of bars 57 which are mounted for sliding movement ends of a pair of connecting rods 61, the rear ends of said rods being swiveled to cranks 62 provided upon the shafts, the said rods 61 being adjustable by means of the nut construction 63 for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the rods to regulate the throw or extent of movement of the bars 57. Ohviously, by the rotation of the shaft 4t, re ciprocatory motion will be imparted to the bars. The forward ends of the bars 57 are pivotally connected with links 64 which extend inwardly of the machine and are, in turn, pivotally connected as at 65 with the c ntters 23. By this construction the rotation of the shaft 4 will result in reciprocating the bars 57 and then, by reason of the link connection 64, reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the cutters. The inner or adjoining ends of the latter are suitably beveled as at 66 to produce shearing surfaces, whereby when the cutters assume their extreme inward position, the surfaces 66 thereof will serve to sever the portions of the wire stock projecting from the dies 28 and 29. Thus, in operation, it will be seen that the wire stock is fed into the machine by the block construction 13, and the end of the stock is forced between the dies 28 and 29 when the latter are separated. The plunger is then advanced and the dies are brought is moved longitudinally of the machine by the infeediu.g motion of the block 13. W hen the block 13 reaches its extreme inward position, the cutters are then operated so as to be brought close together, thereby severing the headed stock from the balance of the stock .and producing a pointed end thereon, which results in producing a finished nail. This nail is then permitted to drop through the opening 25 upon a trough (57, upon which it gravitates toward the front end of the machine for deposit into a suitable container. It will be observed that the beveled surfaces (36 of the cutters are so disposed with respect to the dies 28 and 29 that when a nail is produced by the cutters, a portion of the stock will be left projecting beyond or inwardly of the said dies, and it is this projecting portion of the stock that is held by the clamping action of the dies to be operated on by the plm'iger for the purpose of producing the head.

In order that the sizeof the head produced by ,the plunger may be varied, the said cutters are movable relative to the dies 28 and 29. This may be accomplished by providing the cutter bearings with depending lugs capable of being received within grooves (38 provided in the upper surfaces of the frame I. These lugs are provided with threaded apertures for the reception of longitudinally extending screws 69 which are rotatably journaledwit'hin the grooves 68. Apparently, by rotating the screws 69, the said cutter bearing blocks may be adjusted longitudinally, thus vvarying the positions of the cutters with respect to the dies 98 and 29 to result in leaving more or less of the stock projecting from the dies after the said stock has been. severed by the cutters. Vertical bolts TO may be utilized for retaining the cutter bearing blocks in their fixed positions after adjustment by means of the screws 69.

In view of the foregoing description, tal-zen in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, it will be present that the present invention provides a nail making machine of practical, simple and substantial construction and capable of eliiciently carrying out its several functions. The in o'vahle parts of the machine are all capable of being easily adjusted, repaired .or replaced to conipensate for the effects of wear and to provide a. machine which will produce nails which will be well finished, shaped and proportioned and of standard design. By the construction described, very fine adjustments of the various parts are obtainable and consequently the nails produced by the machine will be accurately completed. the pro vision of the common cran lr shaft 4, from which all the parts of the machine are operated, the machine will be effectively synchronized in operation so that the various functions thereof Wlll take place at proper and timed intei vals. Furthermore, the construction admits of rapid operation on the part of the machine with a corrcspomlingly large output, a nail being produced upon each complete revolution on the part of the drive shaft. By the construction described for effecting the operation of the sliding cutters, a strong substantial and durable arrangement of parts is provided which will not be likely to become out of order, to oecm sion repair or to interfere with the working capacity of the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. In a nail making machine, a frame, a head having a feed opening formed therein provided in connection with the frame, a feeder operable to advance stock through said opening in one direction only, a reci 'n'ocatory heading plunger, dies operating to clamp the stock when the same is subject to the action of said plunger blocks slidablc longitudinally of the frame transverse cutters slidahle on the blocks operable to sever and point said stock subsequent to the heading operation, and a crank shalt capable of effecting the timed operation of said feeder, heading plunger, dies and cuttors.

2. In a nail forming machine, a frame having a guide opening formed therein, a feeder for intern'iittently advancing stock in one direction through said opening, stationary and movable dies situated at the end of said opening and between which the end of said stock is adapted to project, a reciprocating heading plunger, means for inaii'itaining said dies in gripping relationship with said stock when said plunger is advanced to force the stock against the dies, laterally movable cutters operative to sever the stock after the heading operation, means for moving the cutters longitudinally of the frame and link connections driven by a common shaft for el'lj'ecting the operation of said feeder, dies, plunger and cutters.

In a nail forming machine, a frame. said frame having a guide opening formed therein for the reception of wire stock, a drive shaft, means driven by said shaft for intermittently advancing said stock through said opening, stationary and movable dies carried by said frame and capable of receiving thcrebetweeu the stock l'orccd through said opening, a heading plunger, means whereby said dies will be maintained in gripping relationship with niid stock when the atter is subjected to the action of said plunger. laterally movable (llllllGls operative subsequent to the bowling operation to sever and point the stock, and slid able longitudinally of the frame and means i for adj usting said cutters relative to said dies to control the amount of stock projecting from said dies after the severance of the stock by the cutters.

4:. In a nail producing machine, a frame,

said frame being formed with a guide opening, means for intermittently advancing stock through said opening, dies for clamping said stock at intervals in connection with said frame, a plunger for heading the stock gripped by said dies, slidable cutters positioned to sever the stock subsequent to the heading operation, a

drive shaft for effecting the operation of said feeding means, plunger, dies and cutter and a reciprocatory locking operating connection between said shaft and said cutters.

5. In a nail forming machine, a frame, said frame having a guide opening formed therein, means for intermittently advancing.

stock through said opening, cutters for severing the stock projecting from said openin said cutters comprising a pair of slid-ably mounted members, bearing blocks for supporting said members, said bearing blocks being adjustable longitudinally of the frame an operating shaft, a pair of reciprocatory bars, connecting rods between said bars and shaft, whereby said bars will be reciprocated upon the rotation of said shaft, and links between said bars and said cutter members for effecting reciprocation of said members upon reciprocation of said bars.

6. In a nail forming machine, a frame, a head carried by said frame and having a longitudinal opening provided therein, means for advancing wire stock through said opening, cutters for severing the stock projecting from said opening, said cutters comprising a pair of slidably mounted members having adjoining cutting surfaces, a shaft for effecting the operation of said out ters, adjustable connecting rods extending from said shaft, sliding bars pivotally connected with said rods, means for maintaining said bars in positions for longitudinal reciprocation, and inwardly directed links pivotally connected with said bars and with said cutters and serving to effect the reciprocation of the latter in unison with said bars.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

TRUMAN J. ALEXANDER. 

